Victory in the final league match with soccer that represents Tokyo!

　The J1 League Sec. 34 match is an away game against Cerezo Osaka. Finally, we are facing the last match of the league. In the previous match against Kawasaki, although we allowed the first goal, we completely took control in the final stages with Sasa's equalizer, and despite a furious attack on the Kawasaki goal, we couldn't secure a winning goal and ended in a draw. However, we can say that we have completely overcome a temporary slump with 11 consecutive matches without a loss and regained our momentum. Having battled evenly or better against top teams like G Osaka, Kashima, and Chiba in the latter part of the league, we want to approach the C Osaka match with confidence and aim for a victory.

　C Osaka topped the standings with 58 points following the results of the previous match. This is a crucial match where a win means championship, and the determination for this game goes without saying. In attack, the focus will be on the in-form FW Nishizawa, who has excellent ball retention, along with the sharp-moving FW Morishima, MF Furuhashi, and the MF Fabinho who makes runs from the holding midfield position, all of whom require careful attention. Coach Hara has also heightened his caution, stating, "We absolutely must contain that." Tokyo needs to maintain its usual front-line defense and aggressively pursue the ball. On the other hand, the key defender Bruno QUADROS will be suspended, and in his place, DF Yanagimoto will serve as the central figure in the three-man backline. With skillful coverage, they will form a stable defensive line, but by fully utilizing the speed of Yoshiro ABE, Toda, Norio SUZUKI, and others to target the back, chances will surely be created.

　Tokyo will be missing Lucas and Tadashi BABA due to injuries, while Kaji and Sasa are suspended due to accumulated warnings. In their place, Fujiyama will play as right back, Yoshiro ABE will be at the top, and Toda will be in right midfield. Coach Hara also stated, "The stability of the team's defense is thanks to the pressure from the front. ABE, Toda, and Noriyuki SUZUKI can run hard, and if I say 'go for it,' they can chase down anything. I want to make good use of these energetic players." He added, "The opponent's ranking and title race are irrelevant. C Osaka, who is unbeaten in the last 15 matches, and Tokyo, who is unbeaten in 11 matches. Which team has momentum and which is stronger? Winning the match in front of us is the only goal."

　There are still five teams with a chance to win the championship, but this match will undoubtedly be the most anticipated game. The players are fired up, saying, "We absolutely won't let them win right in front of us." Coach Hara is also enthusiastic, stating, "With heart and soul, I want to play a match that makes everyone say, 'FC Tokyo is the best.'" Running and running, going after the ball... we will win with exciting Tokyo-style soccer! Although the occasional breeze is cold, it is relatively warm at Nagai Stadium, and the match started at 2:04 PM with Tokyo's kickoff.

TOKYO Aim To Sign Off In Style

The final league game of the season saw TOKYO travel south to take on Cerezo Osaka. Despite conceding an early goal to Kawasaki Frontale in the previous game TOKYO dominated and, following Sasa's equaliser, attacked with abandon but failed to find the winning goal. The team had shaken off the mid-season slump, returned to form and was unbeaten in 11 games. Excellent performances against several of the top sides in recent weeks had boosted confidence and the team aimed to finish the season on a high by claiming one last win. 
Cerezo were top of the league with 58 points; a win would see them crowned champions. Their attack was based around strikers Nishizawa and Morishima, with midfielder Furuhashi and defensive midfielder Fabinho also requiring attention from the TOKYO defence. "We have to control them at all costs," warned TOKYO manager Hara. Defender Bruno Quadros missed the game through suspension with Yanagimoto taking his position in a three man backline. The speed of Toda, Abe and Suzuki would be the visitors' principal weapon if they were to find space behind Cerezo's stable defence. 
TOKYO were without the injured Baba and Lucas, while Sasa and Kaji were suspended. Fujiyama appeared at right back, Abe started as lone striker and Toda began in the left wing position. Manager Hara commented, "Our defensive stability comes from the forward players pressing hard from the front. Abe, Suzuki and Toda will run hard and chase all afternoon; we want to use them wisely. Our opponent's title aspirations and league place don't mean anything; they haven't lost for 15 games and we haven't lost for 11. It's just about which team is stronger and has the greater will to win over the 90 minutes". 
Five sides remained in contention for the title with this fixture being the main focus of attention. The TOKYO players were determined not to allow Cerezo to celebrate victory in front of them. "Go out and play with heart and spirit. Play so that everybody watching thinks,'Oh yes, TOKYO are a good team'", exhorted manager Hara. The teams lined up in a relatively warm Nagai Stadium and TOKYO kicked off shortly after 2pm.

Although they allowed the first goal, they equalized with Norio SUZUKI's goal.

　As expected, C Osaka came out aggressively. In the first minute, after a hold by FW Furuhashi, MF Kudo advanced into the area, resulting in a right corner kick. Although they managed to defend it, in the third minute, from the right side, FW Furuhashi's throw-in connected to MF Kudo, who delivered a cross that was perfectly headed in by FW Nishizawa, resulting in a goal. They quickly allowed C Osaka to take the lead.

　Although Tokyo was caught off guard at the start, they calmly proceeded with the match at their own pace. In the 10th minute, Kajiyama advanced with a dribble and took a mid-range shot. In the 13th minute, although the opponent cleared a right corner kick, they quickly earned a free kick from outside the right area. Suzuki Noriyuki aimed directly from a position 26-27 meters away, but it went to the left. In the 16th minute, Fujiyama's early cross was cleared by the opponent's defender. Kanazawa picked up the loose ball and sent a left cross. Konno, who followed up on the clearance, shot from directly in front of the goal but it went straight to the goalkeeper. As they gradually began to take control, a counterattack led to the equalizing goal.

　In the 20th minute, Kajiyama won a duel near the halfway line after a clearance from Moniwa and sprinted towards the goal with a dribble. He passed the ball to Norio SUZUKI, who finished it perfectly to equalize! Then, in the 24th minute, from a quick counterattack, Yoshiro ABE dribbled into the area from the right side and took a shot, but it was narrowly saved by the opposing goalkeeper. However, after the 30th minute, C Osaka launched a fierce counterattack as if they had come back to life.

　In the 31st minute, a loose ball from a left free kick was struck fiercely by MF Carlos from just outside the area. It was on target, but Shigeno made a cut. In the 35th minute, C Osaka launched a quick attack, and FW Furuhashi entered the area. Norio Suzuki, who won the ball, was fouled, resulting in a penalty kick. It was a critical moment, but MF Carlos's shot was saved by Doi, who stretched out his right hand to save it at the bottom corner of the goal. In the 41st minute, FW Furuhashi's right cross was headed down by FW Nishizawa at the far post, and FW Morishima, who was in front of the goal, shot from close range while free, but Doi caught it firmly. C Osaka continued to attack, and the danger persisted, but everyone defended well, and the first half ended with a score of 1-1.

Suzuki Ties Early Cerezo Strike

As expected Cerezo attacked TOKYO hard from the kick off. In the very first minute Furuhashi held the ball up, then slipped it to Nunobe who burst into the TOKYO penalty area on the right. Somehow the TOKYO defence cleared the danger for a corner. In the 3rd. minute Furuhashi found Nunobe with a quickly taken throw in down the right wing; Nunobe raced to the byline and delivered a pin point cross that Nishizawa adroitly headed down and past Doi to open the scoring for the home side.
TOKYO maintained their poise and steadily set about searching for an equaliser. In the 10th. minute Kajiyama dribbled forward and shot while in the 13th. minute pressure earned a corner kick and then a free kick some 27 metres from goal. Suzuki stepped up but fired his effort wide. In the 16th. minute the Cerezo defence cleared Fujiyama's early cross out to Kanazawa on the left; Kanazawa crossed again and the ball reached Konno in a good position. Konno shot straight at Yoshida in the Cerezo goal. The balance of play was slowly shifting to TOKYO and a rapid counter attack in the 20th. minute brought the equaliser.
Moniwa cleared the ball out to the halfway line where Kajiyama disposed a Cerezo player and set off for goal at full speed. As he reached the edge of the Cerezo penalty area he slipped the ball to Suzuki who had raced forward in support on the left; Suzuki buried a low drive into the back of the net and the game was all square. In the 24th. minute Abe hit the bar with a powerful strike from a tight angle following a mesmerizing run into the heart of the home defence. Cerezo reasserted themselves and began to threaten from around the half hour mark.
In the 31st. minute Ze Carlos latched onto a loose ball following a free kick and lashed a low drive goalward that Moniwa cleared with an outstretched leg. In the 35th. minute Cerezo countered at pace with Furuhashi taking the ball into the TOKYO area on the left. He collapsed under Suzuki's challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. Midfielder Ze Carlos took his time with the free kick but Doi guessed correctly, diving to his right to palm the ball away. In the 41st. minute Furuhashi crossed from the right, Nishizawa headed the back into the middle and the unmarked Morishima seemed certain to score from point blank range but Doi cleanly held his header. Cerezo launched waves of attacks at the TOKYO goal but the visitors' defence refused to buckle and the first period finished 1-1.

Konno's tenacious goal was scored, ending the league match in a draw

　Despite the instruction from Coach Hara at halftime to be careful as the opponent would come strong at the start of the second half, we easily allowed them to take the lead. In the 47th minute, from a pass by MF Carlos DUKE, FW Nishizawa's shot was blocked by the Tokyo DF, but in the 48th minute, a clearance of MF Carlos DUKE's shot was picked up by FW Nishizawa in the right area, who scored with a powerful shot.

　Tokyo wanted to launch a counterattack, but they struggled to build their offense. Then, in the 54th minute, they substituted Miyazawa for Kurizawa. Changing their strategy to use Miyazawa as a starting point, they sent the FW running into the space behind the opponent's defense, picking up the loose ball, gradually gaining control of the ball and launching a counterattack. In the 56th minute, Miyazawa boldly aimed for a free kick from a distance, but it went over the bar. In the 58th minute, Kajiyama held the ball in midfield, Suzuki Noriyuki passed to Toda directly, and Yoshiro ABE, who moved up on the right side of the area, shot freely but again it went over the bar. In the 62nd minute, from a right-side free kick by Miyazawa, Jean headed the ball, but it narrowly missed to the left of the goal. C Osaka also had a quick attack in the 65th minute, where FW Nishizawa turned and shot from the center, but it went to the right of the goal.

　Tokyo attacks completely, while C Osaka defends and counters. In the 69th minute, Yusuke KONDO was brought in to replace KAJIYAMA. They switched to a two-top formation to increase their attacking numbers and aimed to score. In the 73rd minute, FUJIYAMA shot from a left corner kick rebound, and they surged into the goal area again, but they just couldn't break through for a goal.

　In the 75th minute, they seized a great opportunity for a free kick right in front of the goal, but Miyazawa's shot was blocked by the opponent's wall. In the 78th minute, from Miyazawa's left free kick, Jean rushed in from the chaos in front of the goal, and the ball flew towards the opponent's goalkeeper, but the defender cleared it. In the 83rd minute, Kanazawa connected to Konno, and finally, Miyazawa took a well-controlled shot from the middle, but the opponent's goalkeeper made a save. Just when it seemed they would end without scoring, in the 89th minute, a goal was finally born.

　From Fujiyama's dribble breakthrough, a right corner kick was earned, and Miyazawa sent a liner ball to a distant spot from the goal. Yusuke KONDO, who charged in fiercely, made a powerful volley shot, but it was blocked by the opposing defender. However, Konno, who followed up, calmly trapped the ball with his chest and shot with his left foot! It was a goal born from the determination that reflected the feelings of the entire team, bringing them back to a tie. After that, the 3 minutes of stoppage time ended without either team scoring, concluding the league with 12 matches unbeaten.

　【Player Comments】<Konno> "Cerezo, the top team, had momentum and a strong three-forward line. But we wanted to show that we also have strength. I think it was a good match. In the goal scene, I absolutely wanted to score. The opponent was extremely focused, but I was able to chest trap as imagined and score. The opponent must be disappointed, but I think I would have been so disappointed that I couldn't recover if we had lost like that. If they won the championship right in front of me, I think I would have regrets for life. However, we ended up not losing for 12 consecutive matches, but today was also a draw. The fact that we couldn't turn this into a win is a regrettable point throughout the season. I want to aim for high-level soccer with more and more high-quality and stable play." <Norio SUZUKI> "We scored early, and I thought the opponent would surely go on defense. So, on the contrary, I switched to attack using speed. Regarding the shot, I was often told 'You can't just kick hard to the near post,' and I also saw Abe-chan on the far side, so I aimed for the far post. I think I kicked calmly. Honestly, I wanted to win. I think my weakness showed when we conceded the penalty kick. I was shaken. I want to take this as an experience and grow mentally as well."

　[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "Cerezo Osaka is a very good team and has remained unbeaten in 15 matches. I heard that many fans would attend because the championship is at stake. Since we have been able to win or draw, we entered the match determined to boldly show our strengths and fight confidently, even without Lucas or Sasa, without fear on such a big stage. I told the players that Cerezo Osaka would come out aggressively from the start because they probably think it would be difficult to win the championship with a draw, and indeed both goals we conceded came at the start of each half. We lost the ball when trying to connect at our feet and were caught on the counterattack. When Cerezo Osaka scores one goal, they tend to play more cautiously, so since it was early in the game, we talked at halftime about attacking without fear. Since we were losing at the end, we increased the number of players upfront, used long balls from Miyazawa to develop play, and Konno picked up the loose balls. We also brought Miyazawa on thinking we could create chances from restarts. It wasn’t that Kajiyama or Kurisawa played poorly; the substitutions were made with that strategy in mind. I think the players fought until the very end, which was good. In the home match against Cerezo Osaka, we were leading 2-0 but were caught up by a penalty kick and free kick, resulting in the exact opposite outcome from today. After playing the match, I really think Cerezo Osaka is a good team with very quick transitions between offense and defense. I heard that Gamba won the championship, but this season it was a situation where any team could have won. However, objectively speaking, I think Gamba should have actually won the championship much earlier. I’m thinking of getting some kind of gift from Nishino-san."

　[Summary of C Osaka Coach Kobayashi's Press Conference] "We really scored at a good timing right at the start, but the following 20 minutes were unstable. Since we were able to score, it would have been better if we had stayed a bit calmer, circulated passes, and maintained defensive balance. Also, I think we couldn't stay calm when the opponent pressed us, and we panicked. Since Norio SUZUKI remained on the left side, we placed defender Fujimoto on the ball side, dropped one defensive midfielder, focused on a lone striker, and the second half went well, but the defense was still unstable. We matched the opponent's direct attacks and ended up with one-off attacks ourselves. We lost possession on passes that skipped a player and conceded easy turnovers, which disrupted our rhythm and led to counterattacks. Even without being able to create that tempo, scoring in a good way was significant. The team has gradually improved to this point, and experiences like today are valuable for the future. We need to further pursue being able to defend firmly and keep possession well in the last 5 to 10 minutes. The staff and I learned the harshness of the final 5-minute battle, so we want to work hard again toward next season."

Late Konno Strike Ties It For Tenacious TOKYO

Although manager Hara warned his team that Cerezo would continue their all-out attack as the second period began TOKYO conceded early in the half yet again. After Ze Carlos and Nishizawa neatly set up Morishima for a shot that the TOKYO defence somehow blocked in the 47th. minute, Nishizawa gave his side the lead a minute later, rifling home after a deflected shot landed at his feet.
TOKYO were struggling in attack and Miyazawa replaced Kurisawa in the 54th. minute. Miyazawa began to dictate play, probing the space behind the Cerezo defence with accurate balls for his forwards to chase as TOKYO slowly increased the amount of time in possession of the ball. Miyazawa fired a long range free kick over the bar in the 56th. minute and Abe fired high from inside the area after Kajiyama battled hard to gain control of the ball in the 58th. minute. Jean headed Miyazawa's deep free kick against the outside of the post in the 62nd. minute. Cerezo came close to extending their lead in the 65th. minute as Nishizawa fired narrowly wide following a counter attack.
The pattern of the game developed into TOKYO pressing for the equaliser while Cerezo sat back, content to defend their lead while looking to hit on the counter attack. Striker Kondo replaced Kajiyama in the 69th. minute as TOKYO switched to a two forward formation. In the 73rd. minute Fujiyama pounced onto a loose ball following a corner but saw his shot blocked; picking up the rebound he raced into the area but found no way through.
TOKYO earned a free kick in prime position, just outside the Cerezo area, in the 75th. minute but Miyazawa struck his effort into the defensive wall. Jean came within a few inches of tying the game in the 78th. minute as he poked a loose ball towards the undefended goal after Yoshida found himself stranded following a wild charge at a Miyazawa free kick and a goal mouth scramble. The ball bobbled towards the line until a defender slid in to hack it clear. In the 83rd. minute Yoshida cleanly held a curling, dipping strike from Miyazawa. Cerezo were hanging on for grim death; just as they seemed to have survived TOKYO's onslaught and the final seconds of regulation time ticked away, the goal that had threatened for so long finally arrived.
Fujiyama pushed forward, winning a corner on the right. Kondo met Miyazawa's low ball with a thunderous volley that smacked into a defender and flew up in the air; Konno took the ball on his chest and neatly dispatched a volley through a ruck of players and into the corner of the net. The tenacious spirit shown by the team had earned a deserved equaliser. The three minutes of injury time failed to produce a decisive goal and the match ended 2-2. TOKYO had stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games.

Players' comments 
Konno 
"Cerezo were the league leaders and played with three forwards but we showed how strong we are as well today. It was a good game, I thought. When the chance came at the end I was determined to score. Our opponents were very focused but I just visualised trapping the ball on my chest and shooting; it went in exactly as I saw it. They were thunderstruck and I think I would have been too, if I were in their position. Losing when you are so near to winning the title must be something you regret for the rest of your life. But anyway, the match was a draw and we haven't lost for 12 games now. We have to aim to play better football at a higher level".

Suzuki
"After they scored early we expected them to defend so we knew we had to use our pace to get back into the game. I usually go for the near post when I shoot but I saw Abe at the far post, tried to keep calm and hit it. To be honest, I wanted to win today. I showed my weakness in giving the penalty away; I just got over excited. It's another experience I can learn from to make the mental side of my game stronger".


TOKYO manager Hara 
"Cerezo are a very good team and hadn't lost for 15 games. This was a big game today; the outcome of the title depended on it, there was a huge crowd and even though we were without Lucas and Sasa we played bravely and performed well on such a big stage. We knew that Cerezo would have to win the game to take the title so we expected them to hit us hard and indeed we conceded an early goal in each half. We tried to play the ball in towards our players' feet but lost possession and that allowed them to counter attack. We sent on Miyazawa for his ability to play the long ball; the idea was for Konno to win the loose balls or gain an advantage from quick restarts. Kajiyama and Kurisawa weren't playing badly at all, we just wanted to change our style of play. I'm very pleased with the way the players fought to the very end. In the reverse fixture we took a two goal lead but they equalised with a late penalty and a free kick; today was the exact opposite. They're a good team though and switch from defence to attack very quickly. Any one of five teams could have won the title this year. Gamba won but they really should have sown it up much earlier. I think Mr.Nishino ( the Gamba manager ) owes us a present".

Cerezo manager Kobayashi
"We got an early goal but then struggled for about 20 minutes after that. We should have kept our heads and played the ball around but panicked after they scored. The second half was better as we had moved Fujimoto out from defensive midfield but the defence was very nervous. We were forced to adapt to our opponents' long ball game and our attack became one-dimensional. They picked off our through balls easily and that allowed them to counter attack. We couldn't find our rhythm but we have to be able to create scoring chances even when we aren't playing fluently. The team has come a long way though; today will be a great learning experience. We learned the hard way how important it is to defend solidly and keep the ball in the last few minutes. We'll be aiming to do our best next year."